LIVERPOOL VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 793 
partially gone, and the irritative fever subsided—in fact, all the first 
symptoms much mitigated. 
The terminations of conjunctivitis, if not as above, are effusions of 
serum under the conjunctiva covering the transparent cornea, causing a 
clouded appearance over the whole of the cornea, called nebula; when 
the deposit is greater the colour is increased to a pearly whiteness, 
producing opacity in a greater degree; this is termed albugo or 
leucoma. 
Suppuration and ulceration occasionally take place; in the former 
case the pus forms in the shape of a pustule in the centre of the cornea, 
which bursts, and may produce ulceration, and lastly sloughing and 
mortification. 
The treatment in the first or acute stage depends entirely on the 
cause; we must first examine carefully the eye, and if we find any 
foreign substance which the membrana nictitans has been unable to dis- 
lodge, we must remove it, and with warm fomentations the symptoms 
will probably subside; if they are severe, the treatment must be adopted 
I give below. Should the cause be catarrh, stimulants, diuretics, and 
diaphoretics may be administered, with warm fomentations, keeping the 
patient well clothed and bandaged, and in all cases in a dark box. 
Should it proceed from any disease of the digestive organs, or idio- 
pathically, we must use violent antiphlogistics, such as severe blood¬ 
letting, both local and general, accompanied by one or two doses of 
calomel and aloes. Some advise the scarification of the conjunctiva, but 
this I cannot agree with, as the wounds produced thereby are, in my 
opinion, calculated to be a perpetual source of irritation for some time, 
not to mention the clots of blood forming and pressing on the globe. 
Hot water and steam fomentations, with an infusion of opium, will be 
found very useful in more ways than one, as the steam producing a 
vapoury atmosphere will be conducive to a speedy cure; poultices I 
cannot agree with, not to speak of the difficulty of their application. 
With respect to the difference of opinion with regard to hot and cold 
fomentations, I may say for myself at once, that in the acute and early 
stage of all inflammations (external), I have a decided preference for hot, 
and more especially in this case, by producing expansion of the vessels, 
decreasing considerably the pain. I need not add that light must be 
entirely excluded, and darkness be obtained, not by bandages over the 
eyes, which are very objectionable, but by darkening the box; flannel 
bandages on the extremities, and sufficient clothing, to prevent chill; 
the diet to consist in this stage of bran mashes and a very little hay, with 
a liberal allowance of water. After this treatment has been adopted, 
until the inflammation has passed from acute to chronic, we must adopt 
a very different course, using cold water plentifully, in place of hot, and 
gentle stirring and astringent washes, such as weak solutions of alum, 
copper, or zinc. A little opium may be used along with any of these 
lotions, care being taken to use them weak enough at first, and gradually 
increasing in strength according to the degree of pain and irritation the 
application is seen to produce. In giving the best remedies, I may as 
well warn you against what are said to be objectionable, and these are 
any solutions of lead, even Goulard’s water, as being liable to decompo¬ 
sition, precipitating the insoluble chloride of lead, which attaches itself 
to any ulcerated spot, and heals into a chalk-white and opaque cicatrix. 
This would be very objectionable in a horse, making him dangerous to 
use for ordinary purposes. These lotions may be used twice or thrice 
daily after fomenting. It is said that if the wash be applied slightly 
epid, its action is not interfered with, and the pain caused thereby con- 
